Screamer (1922, Wooden Logging Barge)

Identification & Site Information

• • Vessel Name: Screamer
• • Year Built: 1922
• • Builder: J.B. Smith and Sons
• • Type: Logging Barge (wooden Hull)
• • Primary Use: Hauling logs for the lumber industry.
• • Capacity: Capable of hauling up to 10,000 logs.

Construction and Modifications

The Screamer was designed as a large-capacity logging Barge, reflecting the needs of the lumber trade in the early 20th century.

Initial Design Flaws: The Hull was top-heavy, making it dangerously unstable and prone to listing during turns. To stabilize the vessel, a second Hull was constructed around the original one, effectively creating a double-hulled structure. Stabilization Results: While the additional Hull addressed some of the stability issues, the vessel was still somewhat unwieldy.

Service Life

The Screamer served as a key component of logging operations, towing massive quantities of logs across waterways. Its large capacity made it a valuable asset for transporting timber to mills or staging areas. By the late 1930s, however, the wooden Hull had begun to deteriorate significantly, as exposure to water and the heavy loads took their toll.

Final Disposition

• Date of Retirement: Circa 1940.
• Condition: The Hull had become severely rotted and was no longer seaworthy.
• Disposal: The wheelhouse and engine were salvaged before the vessel was taken out of service. The Woodchuck, another vessel involved in logging operations, towed the Screamer to Smith Island in Georgian Bayfor final disposal. Once there, the Barge was doused with gasoline and set on fire, a common practice at the time to dispose of deteriorating wooden vessels.

Historical Context

The Screamer reflects the importance of specialized vessels in supporting the logging industry, which was a dominant economic force in the Great Lakes and surrounding waterways during the early 20th century.

Logging Industry Innovations: The Screamer’s large capacity and later modifications highlight the challenges and solutions adopted by shipbuilders to meet the demands of transporting heavy timber.

Lifecycle of Wooden Vessels: Wooden hulls were prone to rapid degradation, especially in vessels like the Screamer, which faced constant stress from heavy loads and prolonged exposure to water. The practice of burning unusable wooden vessels was widespread, as it prevented wreckage hazards and minimized disposal costs.

Significance

• The Screamer exemplifies the challenges of designing large-capacity wooden vessels for specialized industries like logging.

• Its ultimate fate underscores the transient nature of early 20th-century wooden ships, which were often built for utility and disposed of when no longer serviceable.

Further Research Opportunities

• J.B. Smith and Sons Shipyard Records Information on other vessels built by the same shipyard could provide insight into their methods and contributions to the logging industry.
• Regional Logging History Historical societies in areas near Smith Island or the logging regions served by the Screamer may hold records or photographs.
• Great Lakes Vessels Index Bowling Green State University Database

Conclusion

The Screamer was a unique example of a purpose-built logging vessel that served its role despite its initial design challenges. Its story reflects the ingenuity and practicality of the lumber industry during the early 20th century, as well as the impermanence of wooden vessels in the face of heavy use and natural decay.